This would primarily affect countries outside the Middle East that rely on fertilizer exports from the region. For example, half of the world’s sulphur shipments come from the Middle East Gulf, mostly headed to China, Morocco, and Africa. Sulphur is essential for producing phosphate fertilizers, and while sulphuric acid can be used as a substitute, supply is already tight.

About one-third of global urea trade also comes from this region, mostly shipped to Brazil, India, Thailand, and Australia. Ammonia shipments from the Gulf make up about 20% of global exports, with major buyers in India, Morocco, and South Korea.

Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden company is a key source of MAP and DAP phosphates, which are shipped from Ras al-Khair. The port also receives sulphuric acid imports, mainly from India and China.

Alternative export routes are limited and less efficient. So far, trade continues, but ongoing tensions could lead to significant supply chain issues. the port might not be able to prioritise fertilizer exports over other commodities. It is also on the far side of the country from the urea and sulphur production facilities.

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The standard applies specifically to equipment with spread capability greater than 18.3 meters, or 60 feet. Current standards reference test procedures for smaller applicators.

ASABE members with standards access and those with site-license privileges can access the full-text via electronic download on the ASABE online Technical Library at elibrary.asabe.org/. Others can obtain a download for a fee directly from the library or by contacting ASABE headquarters at OrderStandard@asabe.org.

ASABE is recognized worldwide as a standards developing organization for food, agricultural, and biological systems, with more than 280 standards currently in publication. Conformance to ASABE standards is voluntary, except where required by state, provincial, or other governmental requirements, and the documents are developed by consensus in accordance with procedures approved by the American National Standards Institute. For information on this or any other ASABE standard, contact Scott Cedarquist at 269-932-7031, cedarq@asabe.org. A current listing of all ASABE standards projects can be found on the ASABE web site at www.asabe.org/projects.

ASABE is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. Further information on the Society can be obtained by contacting ASABE at (269) 429-0300, emailing hq@asabe.org or visiting www.asabe.org/.

Freight shipments resumed Tuesday when the sides agreed to contract negotiations in binding arbitration.

Canadian Teamsters and CP Rail blamed each other for the work stoppage, which brought trains to a halt across Canada and interrupted fertilizer and other shipments to and from the U.S.

Meanwhile, the National Grain and Feed Association, The Fertilizer Institute and 19 other members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group in a letter to President Joe Biden requested his administration work with the Canadian government to rescind the cross-border COVID-19 vaccine mandate for workers moving essential commerce.

The letter urged the U.S. and Canadian governments to modify or rescind mandates blocking unvaccinated foreign nationals, including truck drivers, from crossing the border. Canada’s vaccine mandate requires U.S. truckers to show proof of vaccination before entering the country, and the U.S. mandate requires foreign cross-border truckers to be vaccinated.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said its border policy will remain in effect through April 21.

“The border policy has raised prices because it has constrained trucking capacity and made truck movements more expensive and less timely,� the letter said.

More than 1 million short tons of fertilizer cross the U.S.-Canada border by truck each year. March, April and May are peak months for fertilizer applications across the northern states.

Canadian Pacific covers much of the U.S. Midwest and is a large shipper of potash and fertilizer for agriculture. It also carries grain from the U.S. to its northern neighbor for domestic use and exports. The railroad serves the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and other states.

CP says it’s the leading carrier of potash, a plant nutrient used in the production of multiple crops. The company says in investor documents that it carries 70 percent of the potash produced in North America, all from mines in Saskatchewan.

The railroad says it also carries fertilizers, including phosphate, urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and anhydrous ammonia.

Source: Associated Press

“Recent supply chain disruptions from the global pandemic to Putin’s unprovoked war against Ukraine have shown just how important it is to invest in this crucial link in the agricultural supply chain here at home,� said USDA’s Tom Vilsack. “We are working to rebuild the economy toward resilience, security, and sustainability, and this is part of that effort.�

The program will support American fertilizer production that is independent, made in the U.S., innovative and sustainable, the announcement said.

The U.S. is the second or third top importer for each of the three major components of fertilizer.

Source: AgWeb